Space becomes new battlefield as US confirms weapons deployed in orbit

The militarisation of space is no longer a concept of the future, it seems.The United States has confirmed that it has deployed weapons in Earth’s orbit, marking the first public acknowledgment by Washington of offensive space-based capabilities, presenting them as necessary to protect US forces from hostile actions by adversaries.Speaking at an event on Monday, US Secretary of the Air Force, Troy Meink, said the US needed to be prepared for "evolving threats" in space, but did not disclose what type of weapon had been deployed, its capabilities or when it was placed in orbit.The US Space Force, the space service branch of the American Armed Forces, also confirmed the presence of weapons in orbit, describing them as "on-orbit space control weapons" capable of defending US forces against hostile actions. "The US has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action," a Space Force spokesperson said, according to news agency AFP."Space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest and control the space domain -- employing kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities," the statement said, adding that "these capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes."US FLAGS GROWING THREATS IN SPACE The disclosure about "orbit weapons" comes amid a growing concern within the US military over the development of Russian and Chinese capabilities aimed at disrupting, disabling or potentially destroying satellites.Military leaders have previously warned that US satellites could become targets in a future conflict. Satellites are critical to modern military operations, providing communications, surveillance, navigation and other services to armed forces.The US Space Force has claimed China is developing and operating space and counterspace capabilities as part of its military modernisation strategy. It has also assessed that Russia regards space as a warfighting domain and believes control of space could be decisive in future conflicts.The US military has consequently been seeking to expand its ability not only to protect American satellites but also to counter hostile systems in orbit.Last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order highlighting the role of the US Space Force in defending American space assets while also recognising its role as an offensive force.The US Space Force was established in 2019 as the newest branch of the US military in more than seven decades. Its responsibilities include protecting American space-based assets, including hundreds of satellites used for communications, surveillance and other military purposes.1967 TREATY IN FOCUSThe confirmation also draws attention to the distinction between weapons banned by international law and other military capabilities that can operate in space.The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, in orbit around Earth. It does not impose a blanket prohibition on all military activity or conventional weapons in space.Since the treaty came into force, major space powers, including the US, Russia and China, have continued to develop technologies that could be used against satellites and other space-based systems.The ability to target satellites has become an increasingly important element of military planning because of their role in communications, intelligence, surveillance and navigation.The militarisation of space itself dates back to the early years of the space race. After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, both Washington and Moscow explored ways to protect their satellites and develop the ability to interfere with or destroy those operated by an adversary.RUSSIAN SATELLITES RAISE CONCERNSRecent incidents have added to US and European concerns about the vulnerability of satellites.In early February, it was reported that two Russian satellites had likely intercepted communications involving at least a dozen European satellites since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Such activity could potentially have allowed Russian intelligence services to access sensitive data transmitted by the satellites and, hypothetically, could have created opportunities to interfere with or take control of the systems.In 2024, the US also said Russia had launched a satellite that it believed could potentially be capable of attacking other satellites. Moscow did not publicly comment on the US assessment.The US Space Force has continued to describe both Russia and China as significant competitors in space, as Washington increasingly treats orbit as a potential battlefield alongside land, sea, air and cyberspace.PART OF WIDER US DEFENCE PLANSSpace-based capabilities are also expected to feature in the Trump administration's planned "Golden Dome" missile defence system, which is intended to protect the United States against missiles and other airborne threats.The administration has described space-based capabilities and interceptor missiles as important components of the proposed system.However, the latest confirmation does not establish whether the newly acknowledged on-orbit weapons are directly connected to Golden Dome.The US government has not disclosed the number of weapons deployed, their location, their method of operation or the circumstances in which they could be used.The acknowledgement nevertheless represents a significant public statement about the changing nature of military competition in space, where the world's major powers are increasingly developing capabilities designed not only to protect their own satellites but also to disrupt or destroy those of potential adversaries.- EndsPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 12:48 IST